Hinge mechanism for flask for use in metal molding



' Aug. 17, 1965 F. v. GRAMENZI 3,200,454

HINGE MECHANISM FOR FLASK FOR USE IN METAL MOLDING Filed Feb. 7, 1965 lNVENTOR F/P/W/f K 6/PAMM Z/ B United States Patent 3,200,454 HINGEMECHANISM FOR FLASK FOR USE IN METAL MOLDING Frank V. Gramenzi, 322 LineSt., Camden, NJ. Filed Feb. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 257,011 1 Claim. (Cl.22-107) The present invention relates to hinges and more particularly tohinges used on molding flasks.

A purpose of the invention is to provide a hinge which will allow thedrag to remain parallel to the cope when the flask is in closed positionwhen plates of varying thickness are placed between the cope and drag.

A further purpose is to provide a hinge which compensates for anythickness of plate automatically by spring adjustment in the hinges.

A further purpose is to spring bias the cope toward the drag in adirection normal to the parting line between the cope and the drag.

A further purpose is to provide a stop so that the post upon which thecope slides is fixed in a position normal to the parting line of theflask.

Further purposes appear in the specification and in the claim.

In the drawings I have chosen to illustrate one only of the numerousembodiments in which the invention may appear, selecting the form shownfrom the standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactoryoperation, and clear demonstration of the principles involved.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hinge of the invention applied toa typical molding flask using a match plate.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational section taken on theline 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the hinge of theinvention acting on a flask with a plate of smaller thickness than theplate of FIGURE 2.

In casting metals with a sand mold, the sand is packed around thepattern which is surrounded by a container or flask of suitable size.The flask is separated into two halves referred to as the cope and thedrag. The sand is rammed in place in these halves, as is well known,along the pattern and the two halves, the cope and the drag, are thenclosed to pour the casting.

In many instances in a two or more part flask, the parts are hingedtogether and it is necessary for the molders to make a parting line sothat the cope and the drag can be separated to open the mold. In modernmolding, it is common to insert a plate between the cope and the dragwhich covers the entire area of the flask. The plate has the patternframed on its two sides and it has the gates and the risers attached toit. It therefore automatically establishes the parting line.

In the prior art practice, hinges have been used to pivotally connectthe drag and cope together wherein the hinges and drag and cope rotateabout a pivot as in ordinary hinges. When a plate is used in molding,the plate is not gripped flat by the cope and the drag, but rather thecope and drag diverge radially from the pivot point of the hinge. Thus,the cope and drag do not lie parallel to one another about the plate anda true casting corresponding to the pattern is not obtained.

In the present invention, the hinges automatically by spring adjustmentprovide for any thickness of plate so that the drag and cope whilepivoting at the hinge nevertheless lie in parallel relationship aboutthe plate when the flask is closed and ready for molding.

In accordance with the invention, the drag is provided with an armprojecting horizontally from the drag and pivots thereon a second armwhich mounts a post which slidably supports an arm horizontally mountedon the cope. The cope, cope arm, post, and second arm rotate 3,200,454Patented Aug. 17, 1965 together about the fixed pivot on the drag arm. Aspring biases the cope arm longitudinally along the post toward the dragarm so that the flask when closed about any thickness plate positionsthe drag and cope in a parallel relationship.

Referring to the drawings, a flask 20 has a drag portion 21 and a copeportion 22 which are arranged in a matching relationship as is wellknown. Sand 23 is packed around the pattern on a match plate 25 whichextends between the drag 21 and the cope 22. The plate 25 haslongitudinally overlapping edges 26 and transverse overlapping edges 27.The thickness of the plates 27 may vary, as for instance, of thickness28 in FIGURE 2 and of thickness 30 in FIGURE 3. These plates are wellknown in the art and form no part of the present invention, but ratherthe present invention is concerned with compensating for the variance inthickness of these plates, as for instance from thickness 30 tothickness 28.

The drag 21 and cope 22 are connected together by means of hinges 40 asshown in FIGURES 1 through 3. It should be understood that any number ofthe hinges of the invention may be used on a flask. A horizontal arm 41has a base 42 which is mounted to the drag 21 by any suitable means suchas screws or the like. The horizontal arm 41 has integrally erectedthereon spaced lugs 42 which support therefrom a pin 43. A stud 44 isthreaded into tapped hole 45 in arm 41, the stud being provided with aflat head 46.

Pin 43 pivotally supports arm 47. A post 48, suitably a threaded studhaving threads 50 and a head 51, is fixed into tapped hole 52 andextends in a direction normal to the pivoted arm 47. A cope arm 60having a base 61 suitably connected to the cope 22 by bolts or the likehas bracket 62 extending from the base 61 in a direction parallel withthe plane of the cope. Bracket 62 has a circular opening 63 whichsurrounds post 48 in a slidable relationship and which is preferably ofcircular cross section as is the post 48 but may be suitably of anycross section.

A helical compression spring 64 surrounds the post 48 and abuts at oneend against head 51 of post 48 and at the other end abuts againstbracket 62 of cope arm 60.

In operation, the flask is opened by lifting cope 22 with respect todrag 21. In so opening, cope 22, cope arm 60, post 48, and arm 47 rotateabout pin 43. The cope 22 and drag 21 are prepared with sand for themolding operation and a plate 25, of for instance thickness 28 as seenin FIGURE 2, placed over the drag 21. The cope is then rotated into aclosed position as shown in FIGURE 2. The stud 44 has been previouslyset with respect to arm 41 so that the top of head 45 of stud 44 is atsuch level so as to form a stop for arm 47 so that arm 47 supports post48 in a position perpendicular to the parting line between the drag 21and the cope 22.

When the flask 20 is closed, post 48 will thus extend in a positionnormal or perpendicular to the plane of the plate 25. The cope 22 willrest against the upper surface of plate 25 at 70 completely around theperimeter of the cope since the cope arm 60 is free to move along post48 in a direction normal to plate 25 against the bias of spring 64.

The cope 22 will be held against the plate 25 and to the drag 21 at theside opposite from the hinges 40 by any suitable clasp mechanism, notshown. The side of the cope at 71 will be held against the plate andagainst the flask by the action of the helical compression spring 64acting against bracket 62 projecting from base 61 attached to the cope.Hence, there will exist a parallel relationship between the drag 21 andcope 22 as seen in FIGURE 2.

Where the plate 25 is of a different thickness 38 as seen in FIGURE 3from the thickness 28 of plate 25 as seen in FIGURE 2, the hinge of theinvention will automatically compensate for this variance in thicknessby longitudinally forcing the bracket 62 along the post 48 toward theplate so that the cope at 72 rests against the plate 25. Again, the sideof the cope 22 opposite the hinge is held by any suitable clasp so thatagain in this instance the cope and drag of the invention are heldparallel to one another and in abutting relationship to the plate 25.

It will be seen of course that when the cope 22 is opened with respectto drag 21, the spring 64 will force bracket 62 toward arm 47 untilbracket 62 bears against arm 47. The bracket 62 and arm 47 will remainin this relationship while the flask is open and free of any contactbetween the cope 22 and the plate 25.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications tomeet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident toothers skilled in the art I to obtain all or part of the benefits of myinvention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claimall such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope ofmy claim.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

An adjustable hinge for keeping the cope and drag portions of a moldingflask in parallel relationship comprising a first arm mounted on thedrag, a second arm pivotally connected to said first arm and having apin secured perpendicular thereto, said pin being disposed between thedrag and the pivot when the flask is closed, means for keeping thesecond arm horizontal when the flask is closed, a third arm mounted onthe cope having an aperture therein, said pin being slidably mounted inthe aperture, a fitting attached to an end of the pin opposite that endsecured to the second arm, a helical compression spring surrounding saidpin between the fitting and the third arm, said spring thereby urgingthe cope toward the second arm to maintain a positive relation betweenthem while the slidable pin allows the cope to maintain a plurality ofparallel relationships with the drag when the flask is closed.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 703,626 7/02Upson 16-191 1,699,839 1/29 Gohmann 22-110 1,744,339 1/30 Smith 1843 XR2,618,130 11/52 Leichtman et al 1832 XR 2,620,509 12/52 Keating 16--179XR 2,644,989 7/53 Parkes l6179 XR 2,714,743 8/55 Lochner 16l79 FOREIGNPATENTS 385,252 11/2 Germany.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT F. WHITE, Examiner.

